noun / verb

trail

TRAYL/treɪl/

A path extending behind something's movement.

The worn trail records the path of walkers through the woodland.

A narrow, visibly worn dirt footpath curves through a natural woodland, bordered by grasses, ferns, rocks, and a few trees.

Etymology

trailOld Frenchto tow; pick up a quarry’s scent

Old French trailler combined towing with picking up an animal’s scent. The noun shifted from something trailing behind to a track left by a person or animal, and then to a wilderness path.

In context

San Francisco Public Library57:16

is there an actual trail or path between the temples and if so what are they like are they roadways that cars travel or just walking that's a good very good question okay there are ancient trails that go through

Author: John Lander, The Shikoku Pilgrimage

More examples

The hiking trail winds through the woods.
Investigators follow a trail of receipts to find the missing money.
Our team trails by three points at halftime.
Her long scarf trails behind her as she walks.

Forms

trail · trails · trailed · trailing

Similar words

track: Often emphasizes marks left by feet, wheels, or animals.
path: Names a route without suggesting anything following behind.
follow: Means to come after, without necessarily lagging or dragging.